Abu Dhabi Off-Plan Resales Surge 56% in Q2 as Buyers Target Projects Nearing Handover.
ABU DHABI(Web Desk):: Abu Dhabi’s residential property market recorded a sharp increase in off-plan secondary transactions during the second quarter of 2026, as buyers increasingly focused on projects approaching completion and handover.
According to the latest Q2 2026 market report by Abu Dhabi-based real estate consultancy Crompton Partners, off-plan secondary transactions rose to 883 in Q2, up approximately 56 percent from 567 transactions recorded in the first quarter. The transactions were recorded across 25,422 active off-plan units.
Yas Island remained the leading destination for off-plan secondary activity, accounting for 366 transactions, more than 40 percent of the quarterly total. Yas Island Apartments recorded 245 transactions, while North Yas registered a further 121.
Gardenia on Yas Island was the busiest individual project, with 156 transactions during the quarter. Meanwhile, projects approaching or moving towards handover recorded some of the strongest turnover rates. Sustainable City led with an annual turnover rate of 18.8 percent, followed by Yas Golf Collection at 17.9 percent, Reem Eleven at 16.1 percent and Manarat Living 1 at 15.4 percent.
Ben Crompton, Managing Partner of Crompton Partners, said the most notable development was the acceleration in the off-plan secondary market, with buyers becoming increasingly selective about individual projects.
He noted that buyers were showing particularly strong interest in well-priced developments where completion was visible and the final product could be assessed with greater confidence.
Crompton said Abu Dhabi was increasingly becoming a project-by-project property market, with factors such as handover timing, product type, pricing and resale liquidity playing a more important role in investment decisions.
Established Communities Continue to Post Strong Price Growth
The built residential market also delivered strong results despite a moderation in transaction volumes from the first quarter.
Across six key areas covered in Crompton Partners’ Q2 Secondary Market Transaction Report, 483 properties changed hands for a combined AED 1.25 billion.
Reem Island remained the most active established residential market, recording 223 transactions worth AED 399.3 million. The area accounted for almost half of all transactions covered by the report.
Price growth across Reem Island communities was broad-based. Average prices per square metre increased by 33.6 percent at Sun Sky Gate, 27.1 percent in Najmat, 25.7 percent in Marina Square, 20.2 percent in City of Lights and 19.8 percent across Shams Reem Island.
Al Reef also emerged as a strong performer, recording 108 transactions worth AED 183.7 million. Al Reef Villas 2 posted an annual increase of 59.3 percent in average prices and recorded the fastest annualised turnover rate in the built-market report at 12.56 percent. Al Reef Apartments recorded a 40.2 percent annual price increase.
On Yas Island, average prices at Yas Acres increased by 57.6 percent year on year, while Water’s Edge recorded growth of 32 percent and Noya 29.2 percent.
Saadiyat Island Leads Premium Transactions
Saadiyat Island continued to distinguish itself through exceptionally high transaction values despite relatively low transaction volumes.
Only 13 transactions generated AED 273.6 million during Q2, with HIDD accounting for AED 205.5 million across six sales.
Mamsha remained the most expensive community tracked by Crompton Partners, with average prices reaching AED 57,365 per square metre.
Saadiyat Beach Villas recorded the report’s largest year-on-year price increase at 83.9 percent, although Crompton Partners cautioned that percentage movements in low-volume communities should be interpreted carefully.
Growth Extends Beyond Abu Dhabi Island Communities
The latest off-plan figures also point to increasing activity in Abu Dhabi’s outskirts.
The outskirts recorded 235 off-plan secondary transactions during Q2, led by Al Reeman with 148 sales and Bloom Living with 80 transactions. The figures underline continued demand for family-oriented developments offering comparatively accessible price points.
Meanwhile, Saadiyat’s emerging off-plan market continued to gain momentum as projects move closer to delivery. Saadiyat Cultural District recorded 97 secondary transactions, while Saadiyat South recorded 139 transactions during the quarter.
Ben Crompton said Abu Dhabi was now displaying several distinct property markets simultaneously, with Reem Island maintaining its position as the liquidity engine of the established apartment market, Saadiyat commanding premium values, Al Reef showing strong price momentum and Yas Island dominating off-plan secondary activity.
He added that broad market averages were becoming less useful for buyers and investors, who increasingly needed to assess individual communities and projects based on actual trading volumes, buyer profiles, completion timelines and the strength of resale liquidity.
Crompton Partners publishes quarterly market reports covering transaction activity, pricing, turnover and resale liquidity at community and project level, providing buyers, investors, sellers and landlords with detailed insights into Abu Dhabi’s evolving residential property market.
For further market information, Crompton Partners’ Q2 2026 Off-Plan Secondary Market Report and Q2 2026 Abu Dhabi Secondary Market Report are available through the company’s official website.
